Gun reel feed unit



Dec. l924 1,519,454

H. B. INGLls v GUN REEL FEED UNIT FiledApril 18, 1922 zsheetS-sheet 1 @am l, w24.

F11ed-Apri1 18, 1922 H. B. INGLIS GUN REEL FEEDUNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

HENRY B. INGLIS, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

GUN .REELv FEED Umax Application led April 18, 1922. Serial No. 555,195.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it knownl that I, HENRY B. INcLIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gun Reel Feed Units, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to gun reel feed units for use in conjunction with flexible or fixed gun mounts for aircraft.

The object of the invention is Browning gun or any belt fed mounted or which the ammunition belt is wound being removable fro-m and replaceable in a housing or holder attached to the gun. In connection with the reel a feed chute'or guide of special novel formation is used to guide the ammunition to the feed way of the gun.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mounting for the gun and ree feed unit which will afford a better balance and recoil action of the gun on its horizontal axis and which will also enable the gun to be quickly removed and replaced. The construction further enables a greater amount of ammunition to be carried on the reel, and to be fed to the gun without any increase in width over the gun and reel, at the saine time odering the least obstruction to vision in aiming the gun. IFurthermore the unit is adaptable to any mounting other than a turret. y

To the abo-ve end the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gun reel feed unit applied to a gun; s

Figure 2 is an end view of the same;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the gun reel feed unit as used in conjunction with a floor mount; and

Figure 4 is a plan view thereof.

The improved gun reel feed unit comprises as one of the main features thereof a gun-supporting or carrying saddle 1, shown as consisting of side plates 2 in spaced parallel relation to each other and connected by suitable cross bracing members.

The side plates 2 at one end are formed with trunnion sockets 3, open at the end to to enable a gun to be receive the trunnions 4 of the gun 5. At'

handled as a unit, the reel uponl the opposite end, the side plates 2 are formed with upwardly opening sockets 6 to receive pins 7 carried by the stirrups 8 of the gun 5. By reason of such arrangement the gun 5 may be detached from the saddle l' by a compound movement 0f the gun consisting 1n slightly lifting one end of the gun and then moving the gun lengthwise. The gun is replaced in the same manner.

The saddle 1 in Fig. 1 i`s connected by the trunnions 9 to the fork arms 10 of a mounting stem 11 which enable the gun 5 to be swung on a horizontal axis. The stem 11 is itself journaled in a socket, for example in the bow of a scarf ring, thereby providing for the swinging of the gun about a vertical axis.

Mounted fast on one side of the saddle 1 is a receptacle, housing or box-like holder 12 for an ammunition reel 13. The journals 14 of said reel t into bearing slots or l notches 15 in the side walls of the holder 12 and are held therein by retaining catches or latches 16 mounted on pivots 17 on the holder and pressed into engagement with the journals 14 by springs 18.

A feed chute extends from a discharge outlet of the holder 12 and, as shown, is composed4 df channeled guides 19 .spaced uniformly from each other with the channels 20 thereof facing each other to guide the side edges and ends of the ammunition. The feed chute is given a quarter twist so as to turn the shells through an arc of ninety'de grecs and enable them to pass laterally into the feedway of the gun. Thus the reel holder and the feed chute are fixed in relation to the saddle, and the gun and the reel are quickly removable and replaceable.

Under the mounting arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the saddle 1a has extensions 21 formed with arcuate slots 22 to receive a limiting stop 23 such as a bolt carried by a gimbal ring 27. The trunnions 25 of the saddle are mounted in the ring 24 and the latter is mounted by trunnions 26 in another gimbal ring 27. Ring 27 is secured by fastening means 28 to the skin, sheathing or armor plate 29 of the Hoor of the fuselage of an aircraft, an opening therein being left for orientation of the gun. The gun may thus be swung to any required angular position without disturbing the proper lrelative' attitude of the reel feed mechanism thereto.

A reel-retardin'g friction brake or shoe support, a gun-carrying saddle mounted on trunnions on said support Vto swing at an angle to axis of movement of the swiveledv support, said saddle having sockets .to receive the trunnions of the gun, and aI gun having its trunnions removably held in said sockets, and detachable therefrom by a compound movement of the gun in relation to the saddle.

3. In a flexible gun mount, a swiveled support, a gun-carrying saddlel mounted on trunnions on said support'to swing at an angle to axis of movement of the swiveled support, said saddle having sockets to ref ceive trunnions of the gun, and an ammunition reel carried by said saddle, the longitudinal axis of said reel Ibeing substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said gun mount.

4. In a ilexible gun mount, a swiveled support, a gun-.carrying saddle mounted on trunnions on said support to swing at an angle to'axis of movement of the swiveled support, said saddle having sockets to receive trunnions of the gun, an ammunition reel carried by said saddle, the longitudinal axis of said reel being substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of said gun mount, and quick release means for detaching said reel from the saddle.

5. In a flexible gun mount, ia swiveled' support, a gun-carrying saddle mounted on trunnions on said support to swing atan angle to axis of movement Aof the swiveled support, said saddle having sockets to receive trunnions of the gun, an ammunition reel carried byA said saddle with its sides pafrallel to the axis 0f the gun, and a feed chute leading from said reel to the feedway of the gun.

6, In a flexible gun mount, a swiveled support, a gun-carrying saddle mounted on trunnions on said support to swing at an angle to axis of movement of the swiveled support, said saddle having sockets to re ceive trunnions of the gun, an ammunition reel carried by said saddle with its sides parallel to the axis of the gun, and a feed chute vleading from said reel to the feed' way of the gun, said feed chute being given delivering ends.

In testimony whereof I ture.

a quarter twist between its receiving and ailix my signa- HENRY B. INGLIS. 

